By JORDAN GREEN, Editor-in-Chief
When the Oklahoma-based band “Ragland” takes the stage at Northwestern on Sept. 16, lead singer and songwriter Autumn Ragland will tell stories that define her life.
That’s what the Tahlequah-born travelling musician says of her work.
At the invitation of the Student Government Association, the Ragland band will host a concert on the university’s intramural field that evening from 7:30 – 9 p.m.
Autumn Ragland performed at the Woods County Fair in 2019, and she says she’s excited to come back to northwest Oklahoma with her musical crew in tow.
The Northwestern News asked Ragland some questions about her life and her musical inspirations. Here’s how she answered them.
Q: So, how did you get you get your start in music?
A: I started writing and playing gigs pretty early. I was about 7 when I started writing songs and 11 when I really got into guitar. Shortly after that, I began to play anywhere anyone would ask me to. When I met our bassist, Sam, (now my husband) when I was 15, we began touring together pretty much immediately and never stopped.
Q: How do your Oklahoma roots influence your music?
A: I think growing up in Oklahoma influenced my music because it’s pretty simple living here. I think people say what they feel and are pretty strict on loyalty and family. My music really shows that.
Q: If you were talking to someone who’d never listened to you before, how would you describe your music?
A: Oh, Man, I don’t know. I think general terms would be Americana or singer/songwriter. I’m never trying to stick to just one “sound.” Whatever comes out of me is what I play. I love a good, sad song, so I write a lot of those.
Q: Who are some of your top musical inspirations?
A: Oklahoma is filled with incredible songwriters, and I think our lack of a nearby music community at one point or another allowed us to be unique. I didn’t really listen to any music besides what was on the radio as a kid, so I don’t really have any early influences besides that. I just tried to write what I felt and make it rhyme. There wasn’t a music scene where I was as a kid, so I just had to get creative. These days, I’m definitely inspired by the Americana artists coming out of Oklahoma and Texas. I also love women in mainstream pop right now.
Q: As a singer and songwriter, what motivates you to write and sing the stories you tell?
A: Nothing motivates me more than just my need to do it. Of course, I love being able to relate to others, but it really is more simple than that. I think songwriting is pretty much the majority of my identity. It’s my way of sorting through emotions and dealing with pain, so I can’t really live without doing it.
Q: What are some of the challenges – and perhaps the emotional tolls – you’ve experienced as an up-and-coming performer?
A: I constantly have imposter syndrome, no matter how much I practice or how good of a song I write. We’ve played some pretty large-scale shows, and I really struggled to believe I belonged there. I think it stems from being taught that, as musicians, we are all in competition with each other. And I feel on the lesser end of talented people out there. But none of that is true. We all have our own lane, and there’s enough success for everyone. I have to remind myself of that pretty often.
And I think the struggle of being a woman in this industry has been a huge burden on me. I’ve definitely built up a defense against strangers that I wish I didn’t have because of it. I’ve had a lot of close co-workers and friends turn away from me because of how I’ve chosen to fight that battle. Not only for me, but for other women as well. That’s been one of those most grueling things I’ve experienced – seeing people I love and care about decide that they don’t want to admit there’s an issue when it clearly affects well-being.
Q: This isn’t your first time picking and singing in Woods County, Oklahoma. When you perform here, how do people respond?
A: I love all the crowds I see, big or small. I love when people come up and ask about my writing or take the time to buy merch. I can’t wait to meet everyone in Alva and catch up with friends.
Q: Who will be joining you in your performance here on Northwestern’s campus?
A: Right now, Ragland is traveling as a three-piece. Javan Long is the drummer, Sam Cox is the bassist, and I’m the lead vocalist and guitarist.
Q: You released the albums “Wimberley” in 2017, “Murphy’s Law” in 2019 and still dropped “More Like a Melody” in 2020 even in spite of the pandemic. What can your listeners look forward to next?
A: I never stop writing. And my sound has changed so much, and I’ve also grown as a musician since our last record, which I think will always be the goal in between projects. So, you can definitely look forward to hearing something with a new sound and even darker/funnier lyrics.
Q: What is it that keeps you on the road – and on the stage – day after day, year after year?
A: As I mentioned earlier, I do this mainly because I feel like I have to – to be able to survive my mind. I know that sounds super dramatic, but it’s definitely the truth.
When I don’t get to play on stage for a while, I get pretty jittery. It’s my favorite way to get out emotion and connect with other people.